Gill Ward, 61, from Broadwell near Coleford, was served notice to leave a bungalow she shared with her late sister, Jane Hall, after the sister’s unexpected death. Housing association Two Rivers has since apologised and is working to find her alternative accommodation.
A Gloucestershire woman is facing eviction from a housing association bungalow following the sudden death of her sister, with whom she was living. Gill Ward, 61, from Broadwell near Coleford, had been residing in the property since August of last year alongside her sister, Jane Hall, who unexpectedly passed away on 7 March.
Ms Ward has been served with a notice to vacate the bungalow by 25 May on the grounds that she has not lived in the home for a full year and therefore cannot legally continue her tenancy. Two Rivers Housing Association, the organisation managing the property, informed her that she must move in with family or friends. However, Ms Ward has stated she has nowhere else to go.
Speaking about her situation, Ms Ward said, “It’s still quite raw for us. Me and my sister were close. She was a year older than me. Unfortunately she died on March 7. She went into hospital, we went up on the Sunday to have a meal with her in Fosters, in the cafe – then four days later she was gone. We still don’t know what she died of. All of her stuff is here.”
She had believed she could remain in the bungalow as her sister had notified the housing association of her presence there. However, Two Rivers Housing told her she could not stay due to the tenancy rules.
Following public attention to the case, Two Rivers Housing Association issued a formal apology for any extra distress caused to Ms Ward. A spokesperson said, “Firstly, we would like to apologise to Gillian for any additional distress our actions have caused. We understand that this is a really difficult time for her and her family. While our neighbourhood advisor was following our process, we failed to take the full circumstances of the situation into account and for that we are truly sorry.”
The spokesperson explained that various regulations govern the allocation of social housing, which means tenancy cannot be automatically transferred to another occupant without meeting certain criteria. “Unfortunately, there are rules around the allocation of social housing that we have to follow. This means that Gillian is unable to simply take over the tenancy of her sister’s home and we are working with her to find a solution,” they added.
They confirmed that Ms Ward can remain in the bungalow for the present, with support from the housing team to assist her in securing alternative accommodation. “In the meantime, Gillian will be able to continue to live in the home that she has shared with her sister since August. Our priority now is to provide help and support to Gillian and her family. We will continue to work with her and do everything we can to make sure she has a secure home as soon as possible,” the spokesperson said.
At present, Ms Ward remains in the bungalow while housing association staff work with her to identify a suitable, lasting housing solution as she copes with the loss of her sister.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.tworivershousing.org.uk/custom-content/uploads/2018/12/Problems-paying-your-rent.pdf – This document from Two Rivers Housing covers issues related to rent and tenancy but does not specifically address the case of Ms. Ward. It highlights general tenancy rules and procedures.
- https://www.housing-ombudsman.org.uk/decisions/two-rivers-housing-202017334/ – Although this does not directly relate to Ms. Ward’s situation, it shows Two Rivers Housing’s approach to tenant issues and their policy adherence in other contexts.
- https://www.tworivershousing.org.uk/custom-content/uploads/2016/04/Homeowners-Handbook.pdf – This handbook provides general information about homeownership policies with Two Rivers Housing but does not specifically address Ms. Ward’s situation.
- https://www.noahwire.com – This source is mentioned as the origin of the news article about Ms. Ward facing eviction, though the actual article’s URL isn’t specified.
- https://www.gov.uk/social-housing – This general resource on social housing in the UK explains the rules and regulations surrounding tenancy allocation, which might be relevant to Ms. Ward’s situation.
- https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/housing/social-housing/what-happens-if-the-tenant-dies/social-housing.Popularpages/ – Citizens Advice provides guidance on what happens to a tenancy when the main tenant dies, which could offer context for Ms. Ward’s situation.
- https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/news/gloucester-news/woman-facing-eviction-home-after-10131100 – Please view link – unable to able to access data
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative appears recent with specific dates mentioned (e.g., 7 March) and includes a current situation where efforts are being made to find alternative housing, indicating the story is likely current.
Quotes check
Score:
10
Notes:
The quotes from Gill Ward and the Two Rivers Housing Association spokesperson are specific to this situation and appear to be original as they directly pertain to current events not widely reported elsewhere.
Source reliability
Score:
8
Notes:
The news originates from Gloucestershire Live, a local news outlet. Although not a national brand, it is a legitimate local source, which generally suggests a moderate level of reliability.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The situation described is plausible and aligns with common practices in housing tenancy transfers. The apology from Two Rivers Housing and their efforts to assist Ms Ward add to the narrative’s credibility.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative is likely current, with original quotes and a plausible scenario involving housing tenancy rules. The local source adds some uncertainty, but overall, the details provided suggest a genuine news story.
